Georgetown Independent & Free Press
Date:
Photographer:
April 26, 2016
Eamonn Maher
Apr 26, 2016
Pedal Power: Halton Hills Bike Challenge
underway
$85,000 in pledges from sponsors so far
Photo by Eamonn Maher
The launch of the fourth-annual Halton Hills Community Bike Challenge took place Monday at
noon at Gardiner Public School in Georgetown South. Pictured above, from left, are: Halton
Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette, Gardiner Public School students Nikki Shmukler, Naia Jiskra,
volunteer Ola Jiskra, student Makema Green, Trustees Jeanne Gray and Mark Rowe, Councilors
Mike Albano and Bob Inglis.
Independent Free Press
The fourth-annual Halton Hills Community Bike Challenge officially launched Monday with the
support of 650 enthusiastic and boisterous students at Ethel Gardiner Public School.
The students cheered as the ribbon was cut and the first kilometres were recorded.
Mayor Rick Bonnette, members of Council and School Trustees Jeanne Grey and Mark Rowe
were on hand to support the kick off to this unique youth-friendly community cycling event.
Georgetown Independent & Free Press
Each year, the organizing committe's goal has been raised.
The new goal is 400,000 km, or the distance from the Moon to the Earth, plus a victory lap
across Canada. Last year, the goal was 384,000 km or the distance from the Earth to the Moon.
“Since more than 1,000 participants took us to the Moon last year we felt a responsibility to
bring everyone back home,” said Jane Fogal, Regional Councillor and Chair of the Halton Hills
Bicycle Friendly Community Committee.
The Bike Challenge is a free summer-long event that does not involve any fundraising by the
participants who are only asked to log their kilometres and recruit others to do the same.
Every type and age of cyclist from school kids to weekend warriors are needed to reach this very
challenging goal. To qualify as a participant you must “Live in Halton Hills, Work in Halton
Hills or Love Halton Hills.”
The Bike Challenge is a project of the Halton Hills Bicycle Friendly CommunityCommittee
(BFC) and is intended to encourage people to rediscover their bikes and ride them more often.
“Cycling is a wonderful way to get some healthy exercise and to enjoy a fun family activity,”
said Mayor Rick Bonnette. “Cycling is also an excellent environmentally friendly way to get
around town that is a perfect fit with our Halton Hills Sustainability initiatives.”
Sponsors have pledged an impressive $85,000 in donations to the Georgetown Hospital
Foundation, but the money will only go to the Hospital after the community logs 400,000 km.
This year’s sponsors include: The Peter Gilgan Foundation $25,000, CN $25,000, Georgetown
Canadian Tire $20,000, PwC Epic Tour $5,000, Superior Glove $2,500, Menkes $2,500, CPI
$1,000, Young Dentistry $1,000, Generations Physiotherapy $1,000, Betty D’Oliveira $500,
HealthSpan Wellness $500, Dynamic Bodies $500 and Sweet Sophia Bows $500.
“The Georgetown Hospital Foundation is incredibly grateful for the generous support of our
sponsors and for the dedicated cyclists who faithfully log their kilometres,” said Mary
McPherson, executive director of the Georgetown Hospital Foundation.
“We intend to put the funds towards purchasing new equipment for our hospital. The
government does not pay for equipment. The hospital relies on the generosity of sponsors and
donors to ensure our hospital caregivers have the equipment they need to continue to provide
exemplary care right here in our community."
Joining the Bike Challenge is very simple. Log onto www.haltonhillsbikechallenge.ca, create an
account, either as a family or as an individual, and start logging kilometres. Anyone can join and
participants can bike anywhere as long as it is outside in the fresh air.
The website was designed and donated by Michael Merrall, owner of Halton’s premier cycling
event, the PwC Epic Tour.
Georgetown Independent & Free Press
“Securing Michael as a partner has been absolutely critical to the success of the Bike Challenge,”
added Councillor Fogal, “His technical expertise and marketing experience have been
invaluable.”
Check out the website to learn more about the how it works and to follow our ‘real time’
progress throughout the summer.
The Bicycle Friendly Community Committee is a sub-committee of the Town’s Active
Transportation Committee. Its other events include Bike it to Work Day Noon Hour Ride on
May 30, Bike it to the Market on June 25, Bike it to Canada Day July 1 and Bike it to
Leathertown Festival on Aug. 14.
For more info visit www.haltonhills.ca/CyclingEvents
Volunteers are needed for all events. If interested contact Councillor Jane Fogal at
[email protected]